Hernán Cortés was a Spanish soldier, better known as the conqueror of Mexico, whose rags-to-riches story inspired numerous Spanish adventurers to explore the New World. His several expeditions brought land, power and wealth to him, thus entitling him as the greatest Spanish conqueror in the Central America. Besides conquering empires and increasing his land share, he is also credited for discovering the peninsula of California. He led the successful and audacious conquest of the great empire of the Aztecs, becoming the governor of the newly formed New Spain, or Mexico City, and enabling the Spanish rule over Mexico and Central America for nearly 300 years. The increasing value of cacao beans in Mexico, which were used as currency, encouraged him to start plantations in Mexico, Haiti, Java, Trinidad and other areas across the Caribbean, thus enabling the Spanish to rule the cocoa industry for several years. For his discoveries and expeditions, he was honored by King Charles I of Spain. However, his later years didn’t prove fruitful due to his differences with the new viceroy of Mexico, which led to his downfall, thereby forcing him to spend most of his time seeking recognition and rewards for his achievements in the Spanish royal court

Hernan Cortes de Monroy y Pizarro was born in 1485 in Medellin, western Spain, to infantry captain Martin Cortes de Monroy and Catalina Pizarro Altamirano.

At the age of 14, he was sent to the University of Salamanca to study Latin and make a career in law. However, he returned back two years later in 1501, due to lack of interest in studies.

Being adventurous, he boarded the ship commanded by Alonso Quintero heading to Hispaniola, in 1504, where he was received by Governor Nicolas de Ovando upon reaching the capital city, Santo Domingo.

He was given a small encomienda by Ovando and served as the notary of Azua de Compostela town. For the next five years, he learnt the workings of the colony and established himself in the settlement, making several allies.

In 1511, Hernán Cortés joined the expedition of Cuba under Diego Velasquez as a secretary rather than a soldier. He was recruited in the civil government and made a secretary of Velasquez, who became Governor of Cuba.

He enjoyed promotions and senior positions in Santiago—the second largest city of Cuba—becoming municipal magistrate twice. He also served as the mayor Santiago for a while.

In 1518, just before he was about to set sail for an expedition to Mexico, Velasquez canceled the commission; however, he ignored the orders and proceeded with 500 men, 11 vessels, 13 horses and some cannons.

He reached the Mayan territory on the Mexican coast in February 1519 and befriended some natives, while fighting others to conquer Mexico.

He headed towards Tabasco and won the battle against the natives, in March 1519. Soon after, he set his eyes on Tenochitilan, the Aztec capital, to overthrow its ruler, Montezuma II, and took him hostage a few months later.

The Spanish colonists established a New Spain, naming it Mexico City, which served as the centre of Spanish America, with Cortes being made the governor, captain general and chief justice, in 1523, by King Charles I of Spain.

His position and authority faced several challenges with his archenemies plotting against him. However, through his appeal to King Charles, he managed to keep his enemies at bay without getting involved in a war.

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He secured various opportunities to explore new areas in search of wealth and land, including his expedition to Honduras in 1524 defeating Cristobal de Olid, who was ruling Honduras under the orders of Velasquez.

On returning to Mexico, he lost his position and traveled to Spain in 1528 to appeal justice from King Charles. Although he was not re-appointed governor, he was reinstated as captain general.

Despite diminished authority, Hernán Cortés went back to Mexico in 1530 to continue his conquests through his military power. Since civil affairs was handled by a new viceroy, the division of powers led to failure of many of his expeditions.

In 1541, he traveled back to Spain, where he was ignored and received a cold welcome from King Charles. On his last expedition, he accompanied Charles to Algiers and fell into neglect upon his return.

Hernán Cortés befriended Governor Velasquez’s sister-in-law, Catalina Xuarez Marcaida and love blossomed between the two. He married her in 1518 with the intention of acquiring her as well as Velasquez’s wealth. The marriage ended with Catalina’s mysterious death in New Mexico, in 1522.

His second marriage to Spanish nobelwoman, Dona Juana Ramirez de Arellano de Zuniga, in 1529 resulted in four offspring – son Don Martin Cortes y Zuniga and daughters Dona Maria, Dona Catalina and Dona Juana.

Upon his arrival in Seville while traveling back to Mexico in 1547, he fell ill with dysentery and died on December 2, 1547 due to pleurisy, in Castilleja de la Cuesta, at the age of 62.